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The secret is heat — and a lot of it.

We've all accidentally shrunk a T-shirt. It's a frustrating accident. You were simply washing a bunch of things, and your favorite T-shirt emerged two sizes smaller. Bummer. But, what if you want to shrink the T-shirt? Why would anyone want to shrink a T-shirt, you're wondering? Well, the same reason why someone would want to stretch a T-shirt: because it isn't the right size.

There are two simple ways to do it, but both rely on the same element: heat. No matter whether they're cotton, wool, linen or silk — cotton shrinks the most, silk the least — a combination of heat and water will always do the trick. Most shirts will only shrink 20 percent max, though — so a size or two. Don't expect to turn an XL into a Medium or a Large into an XS.

Boiling your shirt is essentially washing it on high heat — minus the soaping and drying steps.

Have you figured out the formula? It's heat. Here's how to replicate the same effect with your washing machine.